ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is seeking applicants for $1.3 million in competitive grants for applied crop research. The research needs to focus on improving agricultural product quality, quantity and value.

Projects must create public, transferable information that will benefit Minnesota farmers and the state’s economy in the next three to five years. The maximum grant award will be $250,000. Projects can last up to three years.

Any Minnesota organization, research entity, individual, or business with agricultural research capability is eligible to apply and receive funding. This includes: farmers/farmer networks, institutions of higher education, research institutions, nonprofit organizations, agricultural cooperatives, and agricultural businesses with research capabilities.

Applications must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. on April 28, 2014. Proposals may be delivered by mail or in person to the MDA, or sent by email. Additional information and the application are available at www.mda.state.mn.us/grants/grants/cropresearch.aspx.

The Crop Research Grant Program is part of the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Program and was established by the Minnesota Legislature to advance Minnesota’s agricultural and renewable energy industries. The AGRI Program focuses on areas of greatest opportunity and potential economic impact to create agricultural jobs and profitable businesses in the areas of livestock investment, value-added business and market development, crop production and processing research, and renewable energy.